Personalized exercise programs to lower dementia risk in older Veterans with Motoric Cognitive Risk
Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome: Refining Treatment Strategies and Testing Feasibility to Personalize Treatment for Older Veterans
This trial will try personalized exercise programs—functional power training, music-based walking, or both—to see if they help older Veterans with Motoric Cognitive Risk improve walking and thinking and lower dementia risk.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 54 (estimated) |
| Ages | 65 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VA Office of Research and Development Federal |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Trial ID | NCT06451874 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This interventional study enrolls community-dwelling Veterans age 65 and older with Motoric Cognitive Risk (slow gait plus cognitive complaints) who receive VA primary care. Participants are randomized using a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) design to receive functional power training, music-based digital walking therapy, or a combination, with treatment pathways adapted based on response. The study measures mobility and cognitive outcomes to identify which personalized exercise strategies work best for different patients. Successful completion will provide preliminary evidence to guide tailored rehabilitation approaches for older Veterans at risk for dementia.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking, community-dwelling Veterans age 65 or older who receive VA primary care and meet criteria for Motoric Cognitive Risk (slow gait speed plus subjective cognitive concerns).
Not a fit: Patients with a diagnosed dementia, major medical problems or recent major cardiac events or surgery, non-English speakers, or those with existing mobility disability are excluded and would not be expected to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the interventions could improve gait speed and cognitive complaints and potentially reduce progression toward dementia through tailored exercise programs.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies show that exercise and music-based gait training can improve mobility and some cognitive measures, but applying a SMART design to personalize treatments for MCR is a relatively novel approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age 65 2. Receiving VA primary care 3. Community-dwelling 4. Motoric Cognitive Risky Syndrome i. Slow gait speed ii. Subjective cognitive concerns/complaints Exclusion Criteria: 1. Non-English speaking 2. Presence of a terminal disease 3. Major medical problem 4. Myocardial infarction or major surgery in the previous 3 months 5. 3-point walking pattern 6. Dementia diagnostic 7. Mobility disability
Where this trial is running
Boston, Massachusetts
- VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Elisa Ogawa, PhD MS BS — VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA
- Study coordinator: Elisa Ogawa, PhD MS BS
- Email: elisa.ogawa@va.gov
- Phone: (857) 364-4011
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.